Jesse L. Martin

A handsome African-American actor, Jesse L. Martin broke through as part of the original cast of the seminal 1996 Broadway musical, "Rent," a late-1980s, NYC/HIV gloss on Puccini's classic opera "La B...
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Actor Mark Hamill is set to reprise his villainous role as The Trickster in the current series of superhero TV show The Flash. The Star Wars actor played James Jesse, aka the Trickster, in a 1990s TV series and he will now appear in an episode of the show, which features Grant Gustin as the speedy crimestopper, next year (15).
In a press release about his return to the superhero world, Hamill's character is described as "an anarchist terrorist con man serving a life sentence... who helps Barry (Gustin) and Det. West (Jesse L. Martin) to foil the city-wide attacks of a wannabe Trickster eagerly following in the original's deadly footsteps."
The episode will reunite Hamill with John Wesley Shipp, who starred opposite him as the original Flash on TV two decades ago.
Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg tells Hitfix.com, "Having Mark reprise his role as The Trickster was on our original wish list when we were planning our version of The Flash. Christmas and Hanukkah came early for us this year when he said yes! We are beyond humbled and excited to have him joining us for another round of deadly trickery!"

Prison Break star Wentworth Miller is set to play the villain on the TV adaptation of comic book series The Flash after signing up to portray Leonard Snart. In the popular DC Comics, Snart's alter-ego, Captain Cold, is the leader of the Rogues, and a dastardly enemy of The Flash.
Grant Gustin will portray Barry Allen, who becomes the speedy superhero, on the show, which will debut in America later this year (14).
Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Jesse L. Martin, Candice Patton, Robbie Amell and Tom Cavanagh have also joined the cast.

The CW Network
After watching their fellow networks unveil dozens of new series, The CW did things a little differently this year: the network only picked up four new shows. Since the network had its best viewership in a long time this past year, with ratings for Supernatural through the roof and new shows like Reign and The 100 becoming big hits, there weren't very many gaps in the schedule that needed filling. Still, the Winchester brothers can only hunt demons for so long, and so The CW has a new show about people with mysterious powers attempting to stop the apocalypse waiting in the wings. Or, if you're looking for more costumed crime fighters, sassy detectives, or a replacement for the cheesy fun of The Carrie Diaries, they've got that covered too.
We've run down all of the CW's new shows for the 2014-2015 shows, along with everything you need to know about them before they start airing in the fall. And yes, like all CW shows, they promise to be slightly terrible, but ultimately very addicting.
Jane the Virgin What It Is: Sitcom.What It's About: A young, career-focused woman is accidentally artificially inseminated, resulting in her getting pregnant even though she’s a virgin. Who's In It: Gina Rodriguez, Justin Baldoni, Brett Dier, Andrea Navedo, and Ivonne Coll.What It Sounds Like: Secret Life of the American Teenager meets Ugly Betty, plus a sex-ed talk from the Coach in Mean Girls. How Good Will It Be: With a premise like that, it’s got to be terrible. We’re hoping it’s so terrible that it actually kind of good. How Long It Will Last: This seems like the obvious replacement for The Carrie Diaries, so it will most likely get around two seasons. Airs: Mondays at 9 pm.
The Flash What It Is: Drama.What It's About: After a freak accident involving a particle accelerator, Barry Allen wakes up with the power of super speed, and uses it to fight crime. Who's In It: Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, and Jesse L. Martin.What It Sounds Like: Arrow, only he wears red and runs really fast. How Good Will It Be: The CW scored a surprise hit with Arrow, so we have high hopes for this one, even though it too will probably take a while to find its voice. How Long It Will Last: If it gets anything less than five seasons, we’ll be shocked. Airs: Tuesdays at 8 pm.
iZombie What It Is: Drama What It's About: A medical examiner – who is also secretly a zombie – eats the brains of corpses to help solve their murders. Who's In It: Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley, Alexandra Krosney, David Anders, and Nora Dunn. What It Sounds Like: Pushing Daisies meets The Walking Dead, sprinkled with Veronica Mars.How Good Will It Be: Rob Thomas is on board as executive producer, so iZombie will probably be just as funny and charming as his other shows. Although, if we're honest, the premise is kind of stupid. How Long It Will Last: Three seasons... and then maybe a Kickstarter movie.Airs: Midseason.
The Messengers What It Is: Drama.What It's About: After a mysterious object collides with the earth, five strangers discover they have new powers that they must use to prevent the Rapture. Who's In It: Shantel VanSanten, Sofia Black-D’Elia, JD Pardo, Joel Courtney, Anna Diop, and Diogo Morgado.What It Sounds Like: Supernatural, with a dash of MisfitsHow Good Will It Be: The plot is a bit convoluted and heavy on the mythology and Biblical references, which will probably weigh down what would otherwise be an entertaining show about people with superpowers, which doesn't bode too well for The Messengers. How Long It Will Last: It will either be canceled after one season or it will run for nine years. Airs: Midseason.
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Screen Gems
When David Mamet's play Sexual Pervesity in Chicago was adapted into the 1986 movie About Last Night, the self-absorbed Chicago twenty-somethings were played by Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Jim Belushi, and Elizabeth Perkins. In the 2014 remake, those parts are now being played by Michael Ealy, Joy Bryant, Kevin Hart, and Regina Hall and nothing about that seems unusual. It isn't that Mamet's play has changed much in the 40 years since he first wrote it, it's that some of the audience's preconceived notions of who can play what role have.Just as it happened with the reworked The Karate Kid that featured Jaden Smith in the title role made famous by Ralph Macchio, About Last Night takes a '80s story and adds some ethnic diversity to come up with something new. Well, there's a whole lot more movies from the '80s that are just sitting there waiting for just such a redo. Here are five stories that would work just as well in a more coloful version.
Sixteen Candles
Molly Ringwald playing the forgotten girl on her birthday, in love with an older boy and tormented by geeks in the John Hughes classic. Everything about the story still works, including the Chicago suburban setting that was ultra-white in the '80s. Disney Channel stalwart Coco Jones is the right age to play the teenager in love, and Zoe Kravitz would make a fine addition as her attention-hogging older sister. So what if Jones and Kravitz don't look alike? Ringwald looked nothing like her onscreen family in the original. In the all-important older guy role, someone like 90210's Tristan Wilds could provide the smolder. The only real issue would be what to do with the original's exchange student, The Donger. That was a role so racially regrettable that it doesn't exactly have a place in today's world.
Working Girl
In Mike Nichols' film, Melanie Griffith played the secretary that secretly takes over for her out-of-commission boss (Sigourney Weaver), proves a capable business woman, and wins the affection of Harrison Ford. The Griffith character would have to be called an assistant now, but otherwise there isn't much about the story that needs to change. Use someone like Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) or Tika Sumpter (Ride Along) as the underling trying to get ahead, maybe Halle Berry or even Gabrielle Union as the obnoxious boss and Taye Diggs as the love interest, and update the setting from a generic New York investment bank to the entertainment idustry. What Hollywood assistant doesn't want to push the boss out of the way and take over?
Flashdance
Sure, people remember the soundtrack but how many people remember the story? A steel-worker by day who dances in a bar by night, all while dreaming of making it as a legitimate professional dancer, and is pursued by her rich boss. Back then she wasn't really a stripper, but now she would have to be and she'd be trying to break into something hipper than ballet. The role could also be played this time by someone that can legitimately dance, since Jennifer Beals, the original star, was famously replaced by a body double. Someone like That Awkward Feeling's Jessica Lucas would work, or else there's got to be a Janelle Monáe back-up dancer that's ready to break out.
Caddyshack
Tiger Woods broke on the scene nearly 20 years ago, so a golf comedy set at a country club and featuring a diverse cast shouldn’t be any big deal. It's near sacrilege to many to consider remaking such a beloved classic, but a new version would be shooting for a whole new audience. After all, golfers of all colors are tired of reciting the same tired lines from the original. Start with Hart taking on the Rodney Dangerfield role of the rich guy that doesn't like the country club set. Imagine letting Hart riff on a bunch of rich people while dressed in ugly golf garb, throw in Saturday Night Live's Jay Pharoah as the wacky grounds keeper, and it just flows from there. You could have a who's who of comedy going... Godfrey, Chris Rock, Mike Epps, Katt Williams, Faizon Love… there would be a part for just about everyone. Heck, even Eddie Murphy might be convinced to do the Judge Smails role that Ted Knight made famous. That would be top notch.
Three Men and a Baby
Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg were three well-off bachelors sharing a fabulous midtown Manhattan apartment that have their lives interrupted by a baby being dropped off at their doorstep. The idea of guys taking care of babies continues to be played for laughs, most recently in the sitcom Guys with Kids. What has been missing since Three Men is the angle of the guys being rich, Type A personalities. Take Jesse L. Martin, Tyler Perry and Damon Wayans Jr., move the setting to Hollywood, make them all successful and sharing a Charlie Sheen-type playpen, and then let a baby screw up their lives. It's comedy gold.
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Actor John Wesley Shipp, who played the original Barry Allen in the 1990s U.S. TV series The Flash, has been cast in a mystery role in the reboot of the DC Comics-inspired show of the same name. The former Dawson's Creek actor joins previously announced cast members Jesse L. Martin, Tom Cavanagh and Glee star Grant Gustin, who will play the titular role of The Flash.

Matt Damon is to tackle the works of William Shakespeare with seasoned thespian Vanessa Redgrave during a night of readings in New York City later this month (Jun13). The pair will read sections of the playwright's work alongside other stars including Alan Alda, Jesse L. Martin, Christine Baranski and Gloria Reuben for an evening forum, entitled What Are We Worth? Shakespeare, Money, And Morals.
The play extracts will focus on the topics of money and justice, while Harvard professor Michael Sandel will lead a discussion on the subjects.
The event will be held on 17 June (13) at the Delacorte Theater in Manhattan's Central Park.

Harry Potter actress Elarica Gallagher has been cast as Marvin Gaye's wife in director Julien Temple's much-anticipated biopic about the tragic soul legend. Gallagher, who appeared in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has joined a cast that features Brendan Gleeson and S. Epatha Merkerson, who will play Gaye's mother. Jesse L. Martin will portray the soul man.
The untitled project is among the films being presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Temple's film will focus on the 18 months Gaye spent in Belgium recording the album Midnight Love.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Sutton Foster took the stage together. No, they haven't teamed up for a Broadway show, a new television series, or a Modern Family/Bunheads crossover (which would be awesome). But the theater-loving stars came together Tuesday to announce the nominations for the 2013 Tony Awards. (They are the hosts for this year's show, after all, so it only made sense that these two would have the honors of making the big announcement.)
Check out which plays and actors are nominated for Tony Awards for their work on the stage this year.
2013 Tony Awards Nominations:
Best Play:The Assembled PartyLucky GuyThe Testament of MaryVanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Best Musical:Bring It On: The MusicalKinky BootsMatilda The MusicalA Christmas Story, The Musical
Best Book of a Musical:A Christmas Story, The MusicalKinky BootsMatilda The MusicalRodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Revival of a Play:Golden BoyOrphans The Trip to BountifulWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Best Revival of a Musical: AnnieThe Mystery of Edwin DroodPippinRodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Laurie Metcalf, The Other PlaceAmy Morton, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeHolland Taylor, AnnCicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Tom Hanks, Lucky GuyNathan Lane, The NanceTracy Letts, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeTom Sturridge, Orphans
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre: A Christmas Story, The Musical Music and Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Hands on a Hardbody Music: Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green Lyrics: Amanda Green Kinky Boots Music &amp; Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper Matilda The Musical Music &amp; Lyrics: Tim Minchin
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood Carolee Carmello, Scandalous Valisia LeKae, Motown The Musical Patina Miller, Pippin Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Bertie Carvel, Matilda The Musical Santino Fontana, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella Rob McClure, Chaplin Billy Porter, Kinky Boots Stark Sands, Kinky Boots
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Carrie Coon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Judith Ivey, The Heiress Judith Light, The Assembled Parties Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play:Danny Burstein, Golden Boy Richard Kind, The Big Knife Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots Victoria Clark, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella Andrea Martin, Pippin Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:Charl Brown, Motown The Musical Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody Will Chase, The Mystery of Edwin Drood Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical Terrence Mann, Pippin
Best Costume Design of a Play: Soutra Gilmour, Cyrano de Bergerac Ann Roth, The Nance Albert Wolsky, The Heiress Catherine Zuber, Golden Boy
Best Costume Design of a Musical: Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical Dominique Lemieux, Pippin William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Best Direction of a Play:Pam MacKinnon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Nicholas Martin, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Bartlett Sher, Golden Boy George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy
Best Direction of a Musical:Scott Ellis, The Mystery of Edwin Drood Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots Diane Paulus, Pippin Matthew Warchus, Matilda The Musical
Best Choreography:Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical Peter Darling, Matilda The Musical Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots Chet Walker, Pippin
Best Orchestrations:Chris Nightingale, Matilda The Musical Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots Ethan Popp &amp; Bryan Crook, Motown The Musical Danny Troob, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Best Scenic Design of a Play:John Lee Beatty, The Nance Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties David Rockwell, Lucky Guy Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy
Best Scenic Design of a Musical:Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood Scott Pask, Pippin David Rockwell, Kinky Boots
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jules Fisher &amp; Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy Donald Holder, Golden Boy Jennifer Tipton, The Testament of Mary Japhy Weideman, The Nance
Best Lighting Design of a Musical:Kenneth Posner, Kinky Boots Kenneth Posner, Pippin Kenneth Posner, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella Hugh Vanstone, Matilda The Musical
Best Sound Design of a Play:John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary Leon Rothenberg, The Nance Peter John Still and Marc Salzberg, Golden Boy
Best Sound Design of a Musical:Jonathan Deans &amp; Garth Helm, Pippin Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical John Shivers, Kinky Boots Nevin Steinberg, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre:Bernard GerstenPaul LibinMing Cho Lee
Regional Theatre Award:Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, MA
Isabelle Stevenson Award:Larry Kramer
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre:Career Trainsition For DancersWilliam CraverPeter LawrenceThe Lost ColonyThe four actresses who created the title role of Matilda The Musical on Broadway: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro
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Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and S. Epatha Merkerson have joined the cast of director Julien Temple's much-anticipated Marvin Gaye biopic. The film, which stars Jesse L. Martin as the tragic soul legend, was recently picked up by executives at Focus Features International, and the untitled project will be presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival in France next month (May13).
Troy star Gleeson will play late promoter Freddy Cousaert, who convinced Gaye to live in Ostend, Belgium towards the end of his career, and Merkerson will play the singer's mother.
Temple's film will focus on the 18 months Gaye spent in Belgium recording the album Midnight Love.

Ka-chung. That's the sound of a Law &amp; Order reunion in the form of Marvin Gaye's life story. The upcoming biopic, Sexual Healing, already stars L&amp;O alum and Broadway buff Jesse L. Martin, but the cast has just added 19-year Law &amp; Order vet S. Epatha Merkerson to the production as Gaye's mother Alberta, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lucky for both actors, this project will at least feature some good music (and something without a predominant use of electric piano).
RELATED: Jesse L. Martin Replaces Lenny Kravitz as Marvin Gaye
The production, which is helmed by English director Julian Temple, originally starred Lenny Kravitz in the title role, but in early March uncanny Gaye lookalike, and fantastic singer, Martin took on the role. The will take audiences through Gaye's recovery and attempt to regain his career with the help of Freddy Cousaert (Brendan Gleeson). The movie begins filming in late March, with this added dose of comfort, courtesty of Merkerson.
RELATED: Lenny Kravitz to Play Marvin Gaye in Biopic
In her years at Law &amp; Order, Merkerson's Anita Van Buren always seemed to be a bit of a cantankerous mother figure to the detectives, always setting them straight as their Lieutenant. It will be no surprise to see her slip into this role as Gaye's mother.
[Photo Credit: NBC]
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Reunited with Langham for the National Actors' Theater production of "The Inspector General"

Performed for the Public Theater in New York's Central Park in the plays "Winter's Tale" and "The Merchant of Venice"

Played a Negro League Baseball player on an episode of "The X-Files" (Fox), written and directed by David Duchovny

Featured alongside Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in the musical comedy "Joyful Noise"

Summary

A handsome African-American actor, Jesse L. Martin broke through as part of the original cast of the seminal 1996 Broadway musical, "Rent," a late-1980s, NYC/HIV gloss on Puccini's classic opera "La Bohème." Martin's performance as Tom Collins, a gay professor and lover of the doomed drag queen Angel, led to a recurring role as Dr. Greg Butters, the seemingly perfect new boyfriend of "Ally McBeal" (Fox, 1997-2002). Showing an impressive off-screen savvy, Martin moved on to "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), where he was cast as Jerry Orbach's loose cannon new partner, detective Ed Green. He stayed with the show until 2008, taking a leave of absence to reprise his Broadway role in the film version of "Rent" (2005), as well as notching supporting roles in indie films like "The Cake Eaters" (2007) with Kristen Stewart and co-starring on the short-lived show "The Philanthropist" (NBC, 2009) and the hit musical series, "Smash" (NBC, 2012- ) before scoring his dream role in the long-gestating Marvin Gaye biopic, "Sexual Healing." Although he never truly broke out as an A-list star, Martin proved a reliably likable presence and a welcome addition to any ensemble.

Name

Role

Comments

Virginia Price

Mother

Divorced from Martin's father; remarried; her sons adopted surname of second husband

Jesse Watkins

Father

Divorced from Martin's mother

Education

Name

New York University

Buffalo School for Visual and Performing Arts

Notes

Martin on the first musical that made an impact on him: "I remember seeing 'Pippin' on PBS and being absolutely blown away. It was Ben Vereen who was in the show and for me, as a young black kid, to see this black man up there doing this amazing job telling this story, he was the narrator of the story, I was so impressed with him. I was like, 'Man, how come I don't know any people like that?' And within two years or so I knew a lot of people like that because I'd become so interested and all." – Martin quoted in Venice magazine, November 2005